This job is quite a complex one, the flotel is held in position with 12 anchors, 6 of theses anchors have been pre-laid and 6 we are deploying now, the pre-laid anchors were done a while ago and the chain ends were buoyed off. Now we are back on location the AHV’s have to grab the buoys and pull them up on deck, disconnect the buoy and connect either the anchor chain or rope inserts and then connect the other end to the rig, here’s the guys on deck of one of the AHV’s grabbing one of the buoys.
First the AHV slowly moves toward the buoy.

As it gets closer the guys on deck get ready and between two of them throw a cable around the buoy.

Could you tell us something about the design of these strange-looking AHVs? The bridge, for example, has windows that look both forward and aft. Are there dual sets of controls as well? What’s on the lower “decks” below the bridge? How many crew work a vessel like that?

Hi Mr Biswas, yes the bridge is dual controls, 99.9% of the time while working will be spent at the back of the bridge, two seats, one for the boat driver (Captain/Mate) and one for the winch driver(Second Mate/Chief Engineer), in the lower decks is mainly cabins, galley and Landry then deck level, workshops paint stores, stuff like that, and about 15 crew. Hope this helps.

Nice series of pictures to show the whole process, Mark. It’s great when there are people in the picture to give scale to it, and your second shot really shows the size of the buoy and everything else. The thing that makes all of this so difficult is, of course, the fact that you’re doing it while bobbing about at sea, with wind, waves and all the other difficulties you have to deal with. The problem solving skills you describe in words and pictures are awe-inspiring, and your posts frequently amaze me. (I like the pictures of Archie too.)

great shots. as always! I guess as a technical translator in a real life factory [we have presses. they make flooring & worktops] anything engineering/technical is always strangely exciting to see *_* how’s Frank?